The Handful Bra Giveaway!

It's Friday!  The sun is shining (finally)!  And I have a fantastic giveaway to kick off the last weekend in June! Yes, that's right Runninghood friends, I'm finally able to share one of my favorite things with one of YOU!  If you are a regular reader of my blog then you know how much I love my Handful Bra.  I've mentioned my love affair with this seemingly "made for me" item many times.  And now I'm so excited to share one with you!

After having three kids, nursing all of them, and then getting serious about running again, I realized just how unflattering and nonexistent my boobs had become.  My perfect B cups were now something that resembled deflated balloons or wilted bananas. Not that I should care, but putting on my tight sports bras and racing tanks left me feeling more like a 12 year old girl instead of the 32 year old woman that I am.  I always wished that they made a sports bra for women like myself who still wanted the perfect function of a great product but also wouldn't mind a little help looking good while they "perform".  And then I found it...finally!  I was getting some new shoes in Portland Running Company after my chiropractic adjustment and there she was...my Handful Bra!  We've been together ever since.  I don't just wear my Handful bras for running and exercise.  I wear them with everyday clothes as well. In fact, I went to the pool with a friend this week and I wore my black Handful bra instead of my normal Nike swim top.  What's also so neat is that the Handful bra was designed by a fellow runner!

Some Handful Basics and Random Tidbits

• The Handful comes in several colors: black, pink, cocoa, white, and nude.  
• It comes with a mesh bag so that you can wash it and the pads separately and safely.  
• I use my mesh bag for other things too...it has become my favorite little bag to take with me on race day to put my Garmin, Fuel, phone, etc. in.  
• You can wear your Handful with or without the removable pads.  This is great for those of you that don't always need or want extra padding. For me, this isn't really the case.  
• The Handful bra can be worn for everything.  It is stylish so it is great for yoga, a swim top, wearing under tanks, running and exercise.  
• I often find myself choosing my Handful bra instead of my Victoria Secret's miracle bra that I spent so much money on.  
• It is comfortable! Even to race in. 
• Perfect for all you A and B cups out there that just want a little oomph!

Want one?!  Here's what to do (leave a comment for each one telling me that you did and if you can't comment on here for some reason, then you can comment once for all of these on my Runninghood Facebook page letting me know you did these things):

1. Tell me why you want one (even if it is for a friend).
2. Go "like" Handful on Facebook, tell them how great their bra is and let them know that Runninghood sent you and what color you'd want if you won.
3. Follow Runninghood.

Extra credit:

1. Share this giveaway on your blog.
2. Share this on Twitter, FB, etc.  

I'll choose a winner on July 5th so you have through the 4th of July to share this with all your friends who could use a Handful!  

For the motherhood readers of Runninghood who have asked about the Jewel Fairy gig that we have going on around here, I finally posted a video/how-to post for you on how it all works.

Happy Friday!

Amanda

Lululemon, Lessons and Half Marathon

My friend Jen was talking with me the other day about the fact that many times, as writers, we end up writing what we need to know.  In other words, we are inspired to write about the things that we most want to know for ourselves.  I find this especially true with myself lately.  As I've been coming closer to being confident enough to realize my dreams and make things happen for my life that I might have been too scared or insecure to try before.  I think my post last night, Growing Ideas, is filled with lessons and tips that I'm teaching myself so that I can move closer and closer to reaching my goals.  It was kind of like a personal journal entry or self pep talk and I'm glad that some of you found inspiration and motivation from it as well.  Thank you for your comments.  By the way, the art and the collages are all done by my Mom.  For those of you who asked, she uses Real Simple and Yoga magazines and she uses clear-like glue that is photo safe.

I finally did it.  Thanks to all of you bloggers out there that are always raving about your Lululemon gear, I took advantage of this sunny day to head downtown Portland to hit up the Lululemon store.  I have a few races coming up so I decided that it was time to get some shorts that look good, feel good, and that will LAST a long time!  I kidnapped my mom and took her along with me so I wouldn't be alone with 3 kids in a tiny store.  Thank you MOM!  She is a bad influence on me and tried to convince me to get a top and shorts in each color and style but at $54 for one pair of shorts, I had to tell her to keep her opinions to herself.  Ha!  Okay, so she really didn't suggest that but she does convince me that buying quality products is very well worth it!

Here is what I got:

The Groovy Run Short

The Speed Short

The Cool Racerback in black.  I would get off my butt and take a picture but this woman does just fine.  I like this top because it doesn't have a built in bra so I can wear my Handful bra that I love so much!

Tune-Up Race 
I have a half marathon on Sunday.  It was a scheduled tune-up race in my training program but it was only supposed to be a 10k.  When I originally planned out my schedule, there was not a 10k this weekend so my husband and I are running the Half Marathon together.  I'm actually really excited!!  I'm not sure how I'll run it.  Maybe I'll use it as a progression run or maybe just run part of it hard and the other part at base pace.  Or perhaps I'll race the whole thing and just see what happens.  This last options seems more likely if I know myself at all.  Whatever I do, I am excited to be with my husband, drop the kids off with Grammy and Papa, wear my new Lululemon gear (or some of it) and HAVE FUN!!

Now for some decisions.  Arm warmers will be included and I might wuss out and wear my tights.  I like to run warm.

Off for my tempo run!  And it isn't raining!  Good luck to those of you are racing!!  I'm excited to read race reports!

1. Any fun plans this weekend?
2.  Do you have a pair of favorite running shorts or a favorite top?

Amanda

Chiropractic Care, Shoes and Bras For Booby-lacking Me!

Good grief, I know my last few posts have been kind of in the whining "Debbie Downer" category.  I've snapped out of it and am ready to return to my positive self.  I'm going to blame it on injury and  an old acquaintance name P.M.S.  On to better things.  


The Handful Bra
Check it!  I found the perfect running bra for me!  I went into Portland Running Company yesterday before my chiropractic appointment and I'm so glad I took a peek at the bras they had.  Usually I just figure that I don't need anything fancy since I don't really have much in the boob department but then I saw it.  The perfect bra for me!  It is padded but it fits like a perfect sports bra.  It fits great, covers up any nipped out nipples, and makes me look and feel good about my rack.  It isn't just a bra for people like me who are lacking in the boob blessings.  It is a great bra even for the ladies with some boobs but maybe want a little extra padding or don't want to flatten their boobs like a pancake or boob tube.  Check it out...The Handful Bra.  I love mine so much that I think I will order one in each color...this is BIG for me because I am not a big shopper and I'm not one that feels that I need all the latest gizmos, trendy running clothes and accessories but this bra is a MUST-HAVE!  I can't believe it took me this long to find it.  

Chiropractic Care

I'm convinced that regular chiropractic care is essential for me to stay healthy and ready to perform my best when it comes to running.  I believe this is true for not only athletes but as far as my running is concerned, I hope to make it priority to at least get an adjustment once or twice a month.  Luckily, I have an amazing sports chiropractor.  If you live in the Portland area, it is well worth the drive for a visit to Dr. Ted Forcum at Back In Motion Sports Injuries Clinic if you have any sports related injury.  I'm hoping that my visits will eventually just end up being a quick adjustment rather than needing the painful Graston Technique therapy he has been doing on my hamstring since August.  It is painful but I believe in what he does!  


Yesterday's visit was well worth my time.  He watched me run in my Saucony Kinvaras and told me that I over pronate and these shoes are no good for me and probably what is causing my issues right now.  So back to just running in the Mizuno Inspires (which I've been thinking were the wave riders).  I'd love to try out some Brooks shoes because I hear so many good things about them but part of me just thinks I should stick with what works.  I want to try the Brooks Launch shoes but like the Kinvaras, they are a neutral shoe and I am not so sure I will have luck with them if I'm having issues with the Kinvaras.  


If you're in the Kansas City Area and want a good Chiropractor for regular care and adjustments, check out Whole Life Chiropractic.  


Running
This week I've been continuing to tell myself my new mantra of "It has to get harder before it gets easier."  An excerpt from my running journal today:
"  Originally this was my mantra during a hard workout where I was adjusting to a faster pace for a longer stretch of time.  But I'm realizing that this is a mantra I can also tell myself today as I'm feeling injured and trying to find the best shoes, supplements, diet, etc.  in order to be the best I can be as an athlete.  These are just bumps in the road but once I figure them out, I will find things getting easier again.  This is part of growth and improvement!"  


After my rest and my therapy with Dr. Forcum, I'm feeling better today and tonight I will get out there for some sort of run depending on what my body tells me when I start.  I'm excited to know it isn't something that should be too bad or keep me from running!  Big smiles!  

This is the page in my journal that I've been going to a lot this week in my reflections and time off from running.  

Thank you so much for the loving and supportive comments you've given me the past few days!  I am so very thankful for this blog and all of YOU!  I've learned SO MUCH!  And I never would have imagined what genuine connections, encouragement and support that I'd get!  


1. Do you have a chiropractor or do you get regular Chiropractic care?


2.  Good luck to all of you who are racing this weekend.  I know there are quite a few.  I'll have to come back and mention you specifically when I have time to read some blogs tonight or this weekend.  


3. Inspiring running material today?  Janae from Hungry Runner Girl ran 26.2 in 3:18 just as a training run this morning!  And Beth from SUAR ran 15 miles this week...this is HUGE and her determination and focus to heal is inspiring!  I know neither one of these Rockin blogger runners need a shout out from me...you've probably already read their blog today way before mine but I felt like mentioning them anyway!  


Happy Friday,
Amanda